Parliament could be recalled NEXT MONTH to let MPs quiz Andy Burnham as row grows over Labour imposing 'Messiah without a mandate'

By JASON GROVES, POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 19:00, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 19:14, 15 July 2026 Parliament could be recalled for a rare August sitting next month to allow MPs to question Andy Burnham on his plans for the country. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has signalled he is willing to order a two-day recall next month to enable MPs to quiz the new prime minister. Mr Burnham is on course to be crowned Labour leader unopposed on Friday, the day after MPs break for the summer. Following the Labour 'coronation', he will formally become prime minister on Monday despite having said almost nothing about what he plans to do. He will enter Downing Street with the weakest democratic mandate in modern history, having not stood on Labour's manifesto and not faced a leadership challenge. The 25,000 voters who backed him at the Makerfield by-election represent just 0.05 per cent of the electorate. The wafer-thin support has led to him being dubbed Labour's 'Messiah without a mandate'. Labour has blocked opposition attempts to extend the Parliamentary session into next week to allow Mr Burnham to face scrutiny, clearing the way for him for six weeks of totally unaccountable government before parliament returns in September. The length of time between a new prime minister taking office and setting out their plans to parliament is unprecedented. The Conservatives have branded Mr Burnham a 'coronation chicken' after plans for a vote on the issue were vetoed by Labour at the last minute. Tory frontbencher Jesse Norman accused Mr Burnham of 'running scared' after Labour moved to avoid scrutiny of its new leader this week. Coronation: Andy Burnham is set to become PM without undergoing any public scrutiny Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has signalled MPs could sit in August to quiz Mr Burnham Parliamentary sources said Mr Burnham has indicated he needs at least two weeks to get his new government up and running from scratch before facing MPs, by which time Parliament will be well into its long summer recess. But Sir Lindsay has opened the door to a hearing next month. One source told the Mail: 'Six weeks is a very long time to go without proper scrutiny in parliament. It's maybe understandable that Andy wants a fortnight to get things in place, but that doesn't mean we have to wait til September. 'I think if people want to come back for a couple of days in early August then the Speaker will not stand in their way.' Sir Lindsay has also drawn up plans for Mr Burnham and his top team to face a 'mega session' of parliamentary scrutiny if he delays his appearance in parliament until the autumn. This could involve the new prime minister facing three hours of questions from MPs when parliament returns on 1 September. Other senior figures, including the chancellor and foreign secretary could face a similar grilling in the following days, in place of the usual legislative programme. Any move to recall parliament next month would have to be approved by Mr Burnham. But some MPs believe it would be better for him to submit to the plan rather than let pressure build throughout the summer. During exchanges at Keir Starmer's final session of Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch said Mr Burnham should 'come to this place and answer questions rather than scurrying away for the summer'. The Conservative leader also issued a warning to Labour MPs, telling them: 'Changing Prime Minister is not a silver bullet; indeed, it may be that the Labour party's troubles are only just beginning. Solving the fundamental problems in this country will require difficult decisions, and you also need to know how to get things done.' Parliament has only sat in August on a handful of occasions since the Second World War. The last time was in 2021 to debate the chaotic withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan.